Before he became infamous and ultimatelyresigned for tweeting photos of his private parts to women he met on the internet, Weiner had earned a reputation as a defender of consumer rights. Among his biggest campaigns was an effort to rein in sleazy gold dealers, from those who were taking advantage of the recession with dubious “cash for gold” deals to shady coin operations like Goldline, who, as Mother Jonesreported last year, made millions by peddling their wares on the talk shows of right-wing hosts like Glenn Beck.

In May of last year, Weiner released a report highlighting many of the issues that ultimately ended up being part of the prosecutors’ charges Tuesday. His outspoken criticism of the company sparked a very public feud with Beck, who refused to distance himself from Goldline, which had been one of his most loyal sponsors. Beck asked his listeners to send in doctored photos of Weiner showing the congressman with “his nose as a wiener.” He said he welcomed any “Weiner facts” or photos of the congressman “in front of the wienermobile in front of his house, with his wiener dog, with his little wiener children.” Beck set up a website called weinerfacts.com just to post all the photos.

The day after Weiner resigned, Beck gloated about his nemesis’ downfall in a lengthy on-air rant, saying, “We’re going to have to do without, without one of the most unlikable figures in American political history. Remember, there is a guy who was capable of being completely unlikable. Even when he was arguing for healthcare, for 9/11 responders, he was unlikable…He could say anything, look and sound the exact same way. It didn’t matter if he was lying about Goldline or health care or his own wiener shots.”

Goldline International, the precious metal retailer that has capitalized on conservatives’ anxiety about the economy by forging synergistic relationships with right wing TV and radio hosts, is facing a new series of legal challenges after authorities filed criminal charges against the company and its executives yesterday. Several major conservative talkers — including two former GOP presidential candidates — have endorsed and recommendedGoldine, which critics have long contended is little more than a scam.

After more than a year of investigating, the city attorney in Santa Monica, California, where the company is based, has filed 19 criminal charges of fraud and theft against the company, in addition to charges against top executives and salesmen, ABC News reports:

The complaint alleges that Goldline “runs a bait and switch operation in which customers, seeking to invest in gold bullion, are switched to highly overpriced coins by using false and misleading claims,” according to a statement released by the consumer affairs division of the Santa Monica City Attorney’s office.

The company has been charged in the court filing with misdemeanors thatinclude theft by false pretenses, false advertising, and conspiracy, the City Attorney’s office said. In addition to the charges against the company, the complaint accuses former CEO Mark Albarian, executives Robert Fazio and Luis Beeli, and salespeople Charles Boratgis and Stephanie Howard of defrauding customers. Current CEO Scott Carter is accused of making false or misleading statements.

Each of the charges carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and maximum fines of between $1,000 and $10,000 per offense.

Indeed, conservative talk radio is central to the company’s success, as Goldline employs a business model based not on mere advertising, but full integration with the content of conservative talk show hosts’ messages. The company’s website prominently features these endorsers, suggesting the talkers’ backing gives Goldline “credibility.” The company has said it will vigorously contest the charges.

On his Monday show, Glenn Beck announced to his viewers that he thinks an “event” that will fundamentally alter the world is coming soon — and he used MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell’s recent statement that he is a “socialist” as evidence for that event.

Beck said that, in the near future, left-wing “agitators” would foment violence so that President Obama could step in, stop the violence and “save” the American people.

He played a clip of former Clinton pollster Mark Penn telling Chris Matthews that the moment President Clinton reconnected with the country after his midterm defeat was the Oklahoma City bombing. Beck interpreted this statement as an admission that people on the left wanted an Oklahoma City-type event to occur so that Obama could reap the political benefit from its aftermath.

But Beck also reserved time for O’Donnell, whom he cast as evidence that the “mask” of the extreme leftists at the heart of the media and government would come off in the run-up to the “event.” He called O’Donnell the “new, hot loverboy” at MSNBC, and then played the clip of the host telling Salon blogger Glenn Greenwald, “I am a socialist. I live to the extreme left of you mere liberals.”

“But didn’t we just hear that there are no socialists?” Beck said. “Wait a minute — starting to unmask themselves!”

“I don’t pal around with Communists,” he continued. “I don’t know any radical revolutionaries, I don’t know any socialists. But apparently at NBC…it’s not such a big deal.”

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) announced yesterday that a hearing will take place next week to discuss legislation to regulate gold-selling companies, such as Goldline, a sponsor of Glenn Beck and other Fox News personalities such as Mike Huckabee and Laura Ingraham.

Goldline employs several conservative pundits to act as shills for its’ precious metal business, including Glenn Beck, Mike Huckabee, Laura Ingraham, and Fred Thompson. By drumming up public fears during financially uncertain times, conservative pundits are able to drive a false narrative. Glenn Beck for example has dedicated entire segments of his program to explaining why the U.S. money supply is destined for hyperinflation with Barack Obama as president. He will often promote the purchase of gold as the only safe investment alternative for consumers who want to safeguard their livelihoods. When the show cuts to commercial break, viewers are treated to an advertisement from Goldline.“Under this proposed legislation, gold dealers will have a much harder time preying upon the nest eggs of vulnerable consumers,” said Weiner. “It’s shameful that companies like Goldline are able to rip off consumers, use misleading and possibly illegal sales tactics, and deliberately manipulate public fears to sell gold coins at inflated prices.”

Outside of joining the locals in a deep and contented chuckle over the whole “STAY OFF THE GREEN LINE” matter, I’m not sure what there is to say about this coming weekend’s “Glenn Beck Sings A Song Of Myself” rally on the steps of the Lincoln memorial. Weirdly, people only seemed to get terribly concerned about how it will be held on the same day of Martin Luther King’s historic March On Washington this week, despite the fact that this has been known from the get-go. I’d have never imagined this was necessary, but on the off-chance that you’re confused about whether Glenn Beck and Martin Luther King are the same person, here’s some exhaustive research from Media Matters demonstrating this is not the case.

The rally and Beck’s increasing political forays have made him an object of suspicion among some conservatives, even as they acknowledge his influence and potential importance as a spokesman.”The conservative movement is still split on Glenn and whether he’s doing it for himself or doing it for the movement,” said Erick Erickson, founder of the influential conservative blog Red State. Erickson said he’s offered his assistance to Team Beck in his political exploits, which in the past year have included a high-profile battle with the White House, the creation of a network of perhaps hundreds of political groups, and the keynote speech at a major conservative political conference. “Until that question is resolved, I think you’re going to see some groups hesitant to go all in with him.”

Some tea party leaders have rejected Beck’s requests to help with the rally because of concern over his inflammatory rhetoric and fear that he was seeking to leverage their organizational know-how and grass-roots credibility for his own financial benefit, providing little in return.

“They wouldn’t even give us a booth,” said a leader of a tea party-related group that rejected Beck’s entreaties. “I resented their presumption that a relatively small organization like ours would use our connections to promote an event where Glenn Beck and FreedomWorks are featured, and we get no recognition at all. No thanks.”

I have some issues with Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) politically, but his attempt to show how Goldline is ripping off Beck’s audience is a good thing. He has been relentless in his efforts. Kudos, Rep. Weiner.

Check out the fantastic job that Weiner did with David Asman discussing Goldline. Not only did Weiner demand that he get his points across, he successfully controlled the terms of the debate. The video has obviously been edited but Asman seems to have moved from a “Why have you singled out Goldline” offensive against Weiner to begin asking some real questions about Goldline’s business practices. Whether or not Weiner pushed him into it, I can’t be sure. But we’ll give Asman kudos for doing what Bill O’Reilly would not. Rep. Anthony Weiner is a Top Dog again! Must see video for News Hounds after the jump. Democrats who appear on Fox should take notice as well. (H/T Ben Fishel and Karl Frisch)